Alex McLeish has handed the Sheffield Wednesday ace his first call-up to the full squad for the Euro 2020 qualifying double header against Kazakhstan and San Marino.

And Palmer could be in for a debut with Callum Paterson, who played right-back in the Nations League games against Albania and Israel, sitting out the first game in Astana due to the artificial pitch.

Bullen was a player at Hillsborough when he first became aware of Palmer who was just a nine-year-old on the books at the Owls.

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And when the former Dunfermline and Falkirk stopper returned to Yorkshire as a coach Palmer – whose grandmother was born in Carluke – had grown into a player on the verge of the first team.

Bullen has since seen him become the club’s Player of the Year and now hopes the former Under-21 international can make that step up to McLeish’s side.

And the Wednesday coach has no fears if he’s thrown in for the start of the campaign.

His confidence comes from seeing Palmer go up against Willian in an FA Cup tie at the start of this year and despite the Brazilian scoring twice, one from the penalty spot, he said Palmer produced a fine display.

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The 47-year-old said: “We went to Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup at the start of the year and while we lost 3-0 Liam did very well against Willian.

“Willian was probably Chelsea’s best player on the night and scored twice, although one was a penalty, but Liam played very well and the goals were nothing to do with him.

“That was a really good test for Liam and he wasn’t overawed or look out of place. He showed a good temperament and I’d say that performance stands out.

“Willian is one of the best wingers in the league when he’s on form but Liam stood up to it and handled the occasion really well.

“It would be easy to freeze on a stage like that and take a sore one but we had a penalty overturned by VAR that might have changed things and the lads stuck at it.

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“He’s dipped his toe in at Under-21 level but the full team is a whole different ball game and I don’t think he’ll be fazed.

“He’s been on a helluva run of form since the start of the year and our best player so his form fully justifies the call-up but whether he plays is down to McLeish.

“He’s really excited and proud and his family are proud and he’s looking forward to going up, especially with having Barry Bannan involved too.

“And he’s going into a Scotland squad quite high in confidence after the last double header in the Nations League so it’s good for him.”

Bullen reckons Palmer’s versatility makes him a great squad player after watching him play a number of positions for the Owls.

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He said: “When I played at Sheffield Wednesday he was coming through the Academy and actually played in the No.10 role just off the strikers.

“But he slowly drifted back more into midfield and then eventually ended up as a full-back. He had a loan spell at Tranmere Rovers as a midfielder and then he came back and was back-up right-back for the first team.

“He is probably our first-choice right-back at the moment, when you consider his form, but due to one or two injuries he’s had to play left- back and midfield in the last two or three games.

“He’s got versatility and knows how to play a little bit further forward if that’s required but his number one position would be right-back.

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“When he first started playing as a full-back you could see he had to work on his defensive duties.

“He’s always been a good athlete with an attitude to learn and work but there were aspects of his positional play he had to work on. But that’s been ironed out and he really has grown into the position and knows when to tuck in beside the central defenders if playing against a two or stay wide if he’s playing against an out-and- out winger.

“He’s improved and got a lot more aggressive and his aerial ability has improved as well, defending the back post and things like that.

“Three seasons ago he picked up the Player of the Year award at Sheffield Wednesday and while his form has been up and down a little bit since he seems to have got right back to those levels this year.

“He has been playing with a lot of confidence and he’s playing regularly which helps.

“He won’t dispute that he’s got room for improvement but he’s got to a level where he’s a Player of the Year contender again.”